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Prominent Indian education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk is facing growing appeals to end his indefinite hunger strike after his health reportedly worsened nearly three weeks into the protest.
The 59-year-old campaigner has been consuming only salt water for 19 days.
Medical assessments indicate he has lost more than nine kilograms, while those close to him say he is suffering severe physical weakness and now requires assistance to stand or walk.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed authorities to closely monitor Wangchuk’s condition after a petition sought urgent judicial intervention.
The court instructed the government to ensure he receives appropriate medical attention whenever necessary, stressing that every effort must be made to protect human life.
Wangchuk joined the hunger strike in solidarity with the online satirical group, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is campaigning for reforms in India’s education sector.
The movement is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the cancellation of a major medical entrance examination in May after question papers were leaked.
Protest organisers argue that the minister should accept responsibility for the examination scandal.
The government has rejected the campaign’s demands, with Pradhan dismissing the group as being aligned with disruptive political interests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has yet to open discussions with the demonstrators.
Widely admired in India, Wangchuk gained international recognition after receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018.
His work also inspired the acclaimed Bollywood film Three Idiots, and he later appeared on the Indian television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
Concern over his deteriorating condition has prompted opposition politicians, academics, artists, actors and civil society groups to urge him to abandon the fast.
More than 1,800 public figures have signed a joint statement calling on him to preserve his health, arguing that continuing the protest could put his life at risk.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav appealed to Wangchuk to recover his strength before continuing the campaign, while Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor said the activist had already succeeded in drawing national attention to students’ concerns and should now allow Parliament to address the matter.
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman also called on the government to begin dialogue with protesters, describing the issue as one that affects the country’s future.
Despite the appeals, Wangchuk has remained firm, insisting he intends to continue the hunger strike.
A widely shared video released this week showed the activist struggling to walk before being forced to sit down because of pain, further heightening public concern.
A petition before the Delhi High Court also requested that authorities transfer Wangchuk to a government hospital and intervene medically if his condition becomes critical.
Government lawyers told the court that doctors are carrying out regular health examinations and would take further action should his health worsen.
Meanwhile, support for the demonstration continues to grow at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where hundreds of people have gathered despite intense heat.
Doctors monitoring Wangchuk warned that his body has exhausted fat reserves and has begun breaking down muscle tissue, cautioning that prolonged fasting could eventually damage vital organs.
Several student activists participating in the protest are also refusing food, with one already hospitalised after suffering serious health complications.
Organisers have announced a nationwide day-long solidarity fast and plan to march to Parliament on 20 July when lawmakers reconvene, maintaining pressure on the government over their demands for education reforms.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong